Idioms – Priorities and Decisions

Everybody knows the importance of learning some idioms and colloquial expressions, especially when you live in a foreign country. We always learn a lot of them by communicating with native speakers or watching movies and series. In this section, you learn some idioms and expressions to communicate in a more natural way when speaking English in a foreign country.

Here are a few Idioms related to the topic Priorities and Decisions.

* The bottom line – the crucial fact (o ponto principal)

The bottom line is that the great majority of our kids is not fit.

* Cross that bridge when you come to it – deal with the problem when it actually happens (lidar com o problema quando ele aparecer, quando for a hora certa)

Let’s talk about this problem later, I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.

* Cut to the chase – get to the point (ir direto ao assunto)

Let’s cut to the chase, I don’t have time to waste.

* The icing on the cake – when something that is already good gets even better (a cereja no bolo)

To play for the national team is the ultimate experience. To be in a winning team is the icing on the cake.

* In two minds – to be undecided, not able to reach a decision (estar dividido entre duas opiniões)

She was in two minds about traveling or not on her vacation.

* Make a mountain out of a molehill – to talk or complain about a small unimportant problem as if it’s important or seriour (fazer tempestade em copo d’água)

Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill – it’s really not a big deal.

* On the back burner – when you decide to leave something for later (deixar em segundo plano)

It wasn’t April 15th yet, so I put the taxes on the back burner.

* Play it by ear – to deal with things as they happen, improvise (improvisar)